Music to Your Ears

By Laura Marrich

Moonshine Champagne—What is this magnetic force that attracts people to banjos, barefeet and overalls? I haven't been able to quite figure out what it is, but you guys can't seem to get enough bluegrass in this city. And now there's a permanent home for the stuff at the Windchime Champagne Gallery (Downtown, just east of Sixth Street on Central). Windchime mastermind G. Larribas says the gallery will host traditional and contemporary bluegrass performances every Wednesday night from here on out, starting with The Duke City Swamp Coolers on April 19. Keep an eye on our “Music Calendar” listings for new acts each week.

Maury from The Giranimals e-mailed me with some exciting Coma Recovery news—Allow me to share it with you: “Albuquerque's own post-hardcore/screamo powerhouse The Coma Recovery has been signed by Failed Experiment Records out of Chicago. The band just completed recording their debut album for Failed Experiment, titled Drown That Hold End in Wine. The boys will be touring extensively this summer all over the United States to support the album. Come out and see their intensely energetic live show in person at SolArts on May 4; it will leave your senses numbed and your face rocked.” Thanks for the tidbit, Maury ... and congratulations to The Coma Recovery!

The Hounds may be Albuquerque's newest blues band, but don't let that fool you none—this group has some pedigreed blood running through it. “The Hounds is comprised of veterans of the local and regional blues and jazz scene,” says Steve Whitman. And he should know--Whitman plays bass for the venerable Albuquerque Blues Connection as well as the new blues group. He's joined by Dave Paul on guitar, Jim Magnarella (drummer for Albuquerque cover-boys 8-TRACK and some various jazz projects) on the skins and Greg Overman (who, you may remember, played with another local “Hounds” act in the late '90s—Anna Wolfe and the Hounds of Carlisle) on sax. “The tunes tend toward the funkier, jazzier side of blues, with a lot of less well-known numbers ... and some old favorites, of course.” Steve concedes, “It is a blues band, after all.” The Hounds' debut performance is Friday, April 14, at the Barley Room (5200 Eubank NE, 332-0800) from 8 p.m.-midnight. If you don't make the inaugural set, Steve wants you to know the Hounds will follow up with a second full gig at the Barley Room on Friday, May 12.